Orbiting ball game



Ami? H, 1967 G. 1.. JOHNSTON 3,313,542

ORBIT ING BALL GAME Filed Jan. 19, 1965 INVENTOR GEORGE L. JOHNSTON United States Patent 3,313,542 ORBITING BALL GAME George L. Johnston, Des Plaines, 111., assignor to Ellyn Marie Johnston, Des Plaines, Ill. Filed Jan. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 426,643 6 Claims. (Cl. 27397) The present invention relates to an orbiting-ball game and toy device wherein a tethered ball is caused to simulate the launching, orbiting, re-entry and retrieving motions of a missile in space. In this respect, the device is educational. Insofar as its manipulation is concerned, the device requires skill in the attainment of the ultimate objective and thus it affords exercise in hand and eye coordination. Further than this, the device affords amusement to both the operator and an on-looker.

Briefly, the invention contemplates the provision of a straight elongated rod designed for end-over-end rotation when manual torque is applied to the central region of the rod. One end of the rod carries what may be termed a launching cup While the other end of the rod carries what may be termed a retrieving cup. At a point medially of the rod and nearer the retrieving cup than the launching cup is a fixed peg to which a string is attached, a ball or missile-like object being secured to the free end of the string. By the sudden application of torque to the rod a flicking action is imparted to the launching cup, after which the rod is maintained substantially motionless while the ball, which initially is placed in the launching cup, leaves the launching cup and goes into orbit around the peg while the string is wound on the peg. The operator, watching the ball in orbit, attempts to ascertain the particular orbit involved where the length of the unwound portion of the string will have become equal to the distance between the peg and the retrieving cup. At such a moment, the rod is projected bodily forward, or is appropriately tilted, to project the retrieving cup into the path of the oncoming ball with a view toward causing the ball to enter the retrieving cup. Such is the essence of the present invention in its broadest aspect and numerous modifications based upon this concept are contemplated.

The provision of an orbiting-ball game and toy device of the character briefly outlined above being among the principal objects of the invention, a further object is to provide such a device wherein all of the component parts thereof are in the form of commercially available stock materials so that no special machining operations or skills are required in the manufacture of the device, simple assembly operations being all that is necessary. By such an arrangement the device may be manufactured at an extremely low cost.

ther objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time enumerated, will readily suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood.

In the accompanying single sheet of drawings forming a part of this specification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been shown with various adjustments of the parts to provide various problems and results.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of an orbiting-ball game and toy constructed according to the principles of the present invention and showing the same in a predetermined position and condition of use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of two substantially identical inexpensive ball-launching and ball-retrieving cups, respectively, employed in connection with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 33 of FIG. 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, showing the cups in different predetermined position; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of orbiting-ball game and toy, showing the cups in another predetermined position and with the device as a whole differently oriented position of use.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, the ball-orbiting game and toy of the present invention involves in its general organization a rigid frame 10 including an elongated crossbar 12, a torsion rod 14 and a handle 16, the three parts, when assembled providing a generally H-shaped structure. The parts preferably, but not necessarily, are solid and may be constructed of wood or a suitable plastic material. The bar 12 is preferably square in transverse cross section while the torsion rod 14 and handle 16 are cylindrical.

The bar 12 and handle 16 extend in parallelism and they are connected together by the torsion rod 14 which has its ends seated or anchored in sockets 18 and 20 (FIG. 5) provided in the bar and handle respectively and secured therein in any suitable manner as, for example, by glue in the case of wooden parts, or cement in the case of plastic parts.

Mounted for predetermined adjustments on the opposite end regions of the bar 12 are a pair of substantially identical ball-receiving and ball-ejecting cups 22 and 24, the cups being carried on angle brackets 26 which are pivoted as at 23 by means of anchor pins 30 or the like to the upper side of the bar 12, considering the bar to assume the position in which it is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. One leg of each bracket 26 projects vertically upwardly above the plane of the upper side of the bar 12 and has pivoted thereto, in a manner that will be made clear presently, one of the ball-receiving and ball-ejecting cups 22 or 24, as the case may be.

The two cups 22 and 24 are substantially identical in construction and therefore a description of one of them will suffice for the other. The cup 22 has been shown in detail in FIG. 2 and it is generally in the form of a so-called gravy-boat. Accordingly it is provided with a substantially flat base or bottom wall 32 which merges gradually on a curved bias with rounded rear end wall 34. Upstanding sides 36 of generally triangular design extend in parallelism upwardly from the base portion and are joined to the curved edges of the rear end wall 34. A reentrant portion 38 on the rear end wall 34 overlies a limited rear region of the bottom wall 32. Otherwise the upper portion of the cup 22 is open and provides a forwardly and downwardly inclined generally rectangular rim 42. A small hole 44 is formed substantially centrally of the base portion or bottom wall 34 and is adapted to receive therethrough a rivet 46 or other suitable fastening device by means of which the cup as a whole is pivoted to the upstanding leg of the associated bracket 26.

The opposite ends of the bar 12 are rounded as at 48 to provide a clearance so that the brackets 26 may be swung bodily or rotated about the vertical axes of the pins 30, thus allowing the cups 22 and 24 to be turned about these axes through an angle of and brought to the positions wherein they are illustrated in FIG. 4. The cups 22 and 24 also are capable of being rotated about the horizontal axes of the rivets 46 so that they may be brought to the positions wherein they are illustrated in FIG. 4. The cups 22 and 24 also are capable of being rotated about the horizontal axes of the rivets 46 so that they may be brought to the positions wherein they are illustrated in FIG. 5.

Projecting forwardly from the rear face of the bar 12 an appreciable distance is a cylindrical peg 60, to the outer end region of which there is attached one end of a tether 62. The peg 60 is disposed at a point on the bar 12 D which is nearer the retrieving cup 22 than the launching cup 24 for reasons that will become clear presently. The outer or free end of the tether 62 carries a 'ball 64, which, in the illustrated form of the invention is spherical but which, if desired, and in order to lend added interest, may be in the form of a simulated space capsule. The tether can be a string or rubber band. Its length if a string is critical within certain limits. Preferably it is substantially equal in length of the radial distance between the peg 60 and the launching cup 24 so that the ball 64 may be received within the cup without stretching the string or causing binding of the ball within the cup for smooth launching. In no event may it be of less length but, if

desired, it may be slightly longer but not long enough for the ball to jerk violently when reaching its orbit after launching. If a rubber band is used the orbiting path can be elliptical, thereby adding realism to the problem of retrieving.

The orbiting-ball game and toy device of the present inve'ltion is capable of use in several Ways, a preferred mannet of use being illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 wherein the handle 16 is grasped by the fingers of one hand and the torsion rod 14 in projected horizontally forwardly and rotated to an orientation wherein both the ball-receiving cup 22 and the ball-ejecting cup 24 point upwardly as shown. In such positions of the cups, the curved rear end wall 24 of the cups constitute, in effect, ball-receiving cradles, the cradle of the cup 24 being designed initially to receive the ball therein and the cradle of the cup 24 being designed to receive the ball at the termination of the game-playing operation and as the attainment of the game objective. Accordingly, the ball 64 is loosely positioned Within the cup 24 and the operator, by a quick flicking wrist motion, partially rotates the torsion rod 14 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, thus setting the ball, which is ejected from the cup 24, into an orbital path about the axis of the peg 60 as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1. The orbital path is, of course, predicated upon well known centrifugal and centripetal phenomena clearly understood since the time of David and Goliath. The centripetal force exerted by the tether 62 upon the orbit ing ball 64 draws the ball constantly radially inwardly so that the ball follows an ever-shortening orbital involute path of movement. The operator, observing this orbital path, attempts to ascertain the exact moment when the effective length of the tether 62 is precisely equal to the distance between the peg 60 and the ball-receiving cup 22. At this moment, he advances the entire device quickly forwardly a short distance and the orbiting ball 64, if the operators calculations are correct, will drop into the ballreceiving cup 22, thus attaining the objective of the game.

Since the two cups 22 and 24 are identical, it is obvious that either cup may serve as the launching cup and the other as the retrieving cup with a corresponding relocation of the peg 60. A left handed person may, for example, prefer to utilize the cup 22 as the ball-ejecting cup and the cup 24 as the ball-receiving cup. In this event, the torque rod will initially be given a clockwise impetus rather than a counter-clockwise impetus.

Variations in the use of the ball-orbiting game and toy device are readily obtainable by predeterminedly adjusting the positions of the two cups 22 and 24. Permutations of no less than twenty-seven right angular positions for either the cups or of the supporting brackets therefor are available of different game variations. If cup and bracket angles other than 90 angles are employed, the gamevariations are infinite. Moreover, whereas the pins 30 are aligned with the path of orbit for strength against the inertias present in the launching, they can be arranged to be parallel with the torsion rod 14 for another set of similar problems.

In FIG. 4 one contemplated game variation is illustrated, the two cups 22 and 24 pointing upwardly as in the form shown in FIG. 1 but with the brackets 26 being turned through an angle of 90 so that the cups lie outside the longitudinal confines of the bar 12. Ball-orbiting is not required to attain a game skill objective in this instance and it is merely necessary to flick the ball from the ball-ejecting cup 24 to the ball-receiving cup by a sudden turn of the wrist, thus causing the ball to follow a freefall trajectory from one cup to the other for practice.

In FIG. 5, another contemplated game variation is shown, the brackets remaining in the positions in which they are illustrated in FIG. 4 but with the cups 22 and 24 being rotated through an angle of Here, again, a free-fall trajectory is contemplated for transfer of the ball from the cup 24 to the cup 22 but in this instance the operator will hold the device high above his head with the torsion rod 16 extending vertically. To flick the ball from one cup to the other, a sudden askew or oblique motion can be applied to the device as a whole as indicated by the arrows in this view.

Numerous other game variations are contemplated, as stated above, but these have not been illustrated herein, the illustrations of FIGS. 4 and 5 being deemed sufficient to indicate that either the brackets 26 may be adjusted (FIG. 4) or the cups 22 and 24 may be adjusted (FIG. 5).

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ball-orbiting game and toy device of the character described, in combination, an elongated supporting bar, a torsion rod projecting laterally from the central region of said bar in one direction and at an angle of 90 to the longitudinal axis of the bar, a peg projecting laterally from a medial region of said bar in a direction opposite to said one direction and at an angle of 90 to the axis of said bar, said peg being positioned closer to one end of the bar than the other end thereof, a flexible tether secured at one end to said peg, an article secured to the free end of said tether, an article-receiving cup mounted on each end of the bar and having an open rim for passage of the article into and out of the cup, the effective length of said tether being no less than the effective distance between the peg and the end of the bar from which it is more remotely positioned, and a handle mounted on the distal end of said torsion bar for manipulation of the device whereby the article, when positioned in one of said cups may be ejected from said latter cup, caused to orbit about the axis of said peg in a diminishing radial path as the tether becomes progressively wound upon the peg, and to enter the other cup.

2. In a ball-orbiting game and toy device, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the tether is a string having an effective length substantially equal to the effective distance between said peg and the end of the bar from which it is more remotely positioned.

3. In a ball-orbiting game and toy device, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle consists of a length of rod stock secured at its medial region to the distal end of the torsion rod and extending parallel to the supporting bar.

4. In a ball-orbiting game and toy device of the character described, an elongated supporting arm, a torsion rod projecting laterally from the central region of said arm in one direction and at an angle of 90 to the longitudinal axis of the arm, a peg projecting laterally from a medial region of said arm in a direction opposite to said one direction and at an angle of 90 to the axis of said bar, said peg being positioned closer to one end of the arm than the other end thereof, a flexible tether secured at one end to said peg, an article secured to the free end of said tether an article-receiving cup movably mounted on each end of the bar for universal adjustment thereon and having an open rim for passage of the article into and out of the cup, the effective length of said tether being no less than the effective distance between the peg and the end of the bar from which it is more remotely positioned, and a handle mounted on the distal end of said torsion bar for manipulation of the device whereby the article, when positioned in one of said cups may be launched from said latter cup with a flicking action, caused to orbit about the axis of said peg in a diminishing radial path as the tether becomes progressively wound upon the peg, and to enter the other cup.

5. In a ball-orbiting game and toy device, the combination set forth in claim 4, wherein the movable mounting of the cup includes a pin in alignment with the orbit of the article, the effective length of said string is precisely equal to the effective distance between said peg and the end of the bar from which it is more remotely positioned.

6. In a ball-orbiting game and toy device of the character described, an elongated supporting bar of generally square cross section, a torsion rod projecting laterally from the central region of said bar on one side of the bar and at an angle of 90 to the longitudinal axis of the bar, a peg projecting laterally from a medial region of the bar on the opposite side of the bar and at an angle of 90 to the longitudinal axis of the bar, said peg being positioned closer to one end of the bar than the other end thereof, a flexible string secured at one end to said peg, an article secured to the free end of said string, the eflfective length of the string being no less than the effective distance between the peg and the end of the bar from which it is more remotely positioned, an article-receiving cup movably mounted on each end of the bar for universal adjustment thereon and having an open rim for passage of the article into and out of the cup, the pivotal mounting for each cup comprising an angle bracket having a base leg pivotally secured to a third flat side of the bar for turning movement in the plane of the leg, and having a lateral leg, a wall of said cup being pivotally secured to the upstanding leg of the bracket for turning movement in the general plane of the upstanding leg, and a handle mounted on the distal end of said torsion bar for manipulation of the device whereby the article, when positioned in one of said cups may be ejected from said latter cup, caused to orbit about the axis of said peg in a diminishing radial path as the string becomes progressively wound upon the peg, and to enter the other cup.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,181,236 11/1939 Irwin 273--98 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A BALL-ORBITING GAME AND TOY DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED SUPPORTING BAR, A TORSION ROD PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM THE CENTRAL REGION OF SAID BAR IN ONE DIRECTION AND AT AN ANGLE OF 90* TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE BAR, A PEG PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM A MEDIAL REGION OF SAID BAR IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION AND AT AN ANGLE OF 90* TO THE AXIS OF SAID BAR, SAID PEG BEING POSITIONED CLOSER TO ONE END OF THE BAR THAN THE OTHER END THEREOF, A FLEXIBLE TETHER SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID PEG, AN ARTICLE SECURED TO THE FREE END OF SAID TETHER, AN ARTICLE-RECEIVING CUP MOUNTED ON EACH END OF THE BAR AND HAVING AN OPEN RIM FOR PASSAGE OF THE ARTICLE INTO AND OUT OF THE CUP, THE 